BlueWater Challenge press release

With just days remaining until the flag drops on the newest Best In The Desert racing adventure, nearly 150 cars, trucks and UTVs have entered to take on the challenge. The BlueWater Desert Challenge in Parker, AZ, October 15-17, hosted by the BlueWater Resort & Casino, is the fourth event in the five-race 2010 Best In The Desert series. Unlike all of the other Best In The Desert long distance races, that are either a long loop race, or a point to point course, as is the Parker “425” or the TSCO “Vegas to Reno” courses, the all new BlueWater Desert Challenge is a 2-day multi-race format that will feature something totally different for “The American Off-Road Racing Series”.

Two full days of non-stop racing on an exciting 27 mile long course that treats the racers to the likes of John Wayne’s Gorge, Marilyn’s Fun Time, The Matterhorn, The Haunted House, Course Cutter Wash, The New Thunder Alley and The Snake Pit. Casey Folks, director of Best in the Desert, said, “This course is a racer’s dream come true…an off-road racers Disneyland. It not only features the famous “Parker Python”, but also a wide selection of tough terrain that’s sure to please and challenge every team – every racer.”

With the special multi-race format, Casey Folks decided to add to the excitement by expanding Time Trials to include other classes of race vehicles. He set the stage for individual qualifying sessions for the Trick Trucks and Class 1500 cars because they race in separate heats, then two more sessions for classes 1100 and 7200. But when the Class 1000 racers got wind of it, they said “hey, we’re faster than the 7200 trucks”. Since those two classes will be running in the same heat, Casey decide to let them go head to head in their own qualifying session to find out who really is the fastest between them.

This new qualifying format presented Steve Olliges, president of Team Ford Las Vegas, with an odd circumstance. The $1000 “Team Ford” Pole Award is normally given to the fasted qualifier between the Class 1400 Trick Trucks and Class 1500. But the four separate Time Trials changes everything. Being the spirited competitor that he is, Steve decided to spice it up by stating “I’ll give the $1000 cash and “Team Ford” Pole Award to the fastest qualifier of the day, regardless of class!”

So the challenge has been thrown down. Do the limited engine vehicles with their lighter weight have a chance against the heavier, high horsepower machines of capturing the prize? Should make for a very interesting day of heavy footed racers pushing their cars and trucks to the max. When the dust settles, who will prove to be the fastest and take home the cash and bragging rights?

Immediately following the Time Trials, the race vehicles will parade to the center of town for the Downtown Parker Experience. This is a fun street festival for racers, family and fans. The whole town of Parker comes out to see the collection of millions of dollars of race cars and trucks, plus there’s food, entertainment; and then later that night the winners of the time trials will be announced at the General Tire Welcome Party.